10 Tips On Being A Leader By Marcus Garvey
The Honorable Mr. Marcus Mosiah Garvey possessed prolific leadership skills as he organized the largest global movement (Universal Negro Improvement Association) among Black people with the objective of having a powerful nation for the Black race.
Garvey says, “To lead SUGGESTS that you must have followers. For others to follow you, you must be superior to them in the things that they must follow you for.”
Here are Garvey’s 10 tips on leadership.
1. You must always be ahead by way of knowledge of all those you lead.
The moment you fall down from the position of superior ability, you will automatically fail to lead and you will have to follow others.
2. A leader must have a personality.
You must be clean-cut in your appearance so as not to be criticized. An untidy leader is always a failure. You must be neatly dressed and your general appearance must be clean and presentable because people are supposed to follow you in your manner, behavior, and your general conduct.
3. Never show your personal poverty to those you lead.
They will never trust you. This does not mean that you should not reveal the poverty of the cause you represent, because that cause is your cause and the people’s cause; in which both of you are interested.
4. Never tell lies to those you lead.
Sooner or later they will find you out and then your career will come to an abrupt end. NOBODY EVER TRUSTS A PERSON A SECOND TIME whom they disbelieved once and has proof of their disbelief.
5. A leader must always carry themself with dignity.
You must not be a snob, but you must maintain your pride. A leader cannot well afford to mix themself up with anything that is not dignified or self-respecting.
6. Don’t carry weakness on your face or in your eyes.
Somebody will detect it and you will be ruined. If you have personal weaknesses, try to conquer them and hide them as long as you can until you have conquered them; otherwise, you will be ruined.
7. Nobody is obligated to make you happy.
So don’t carry your sorrow to the world and on your sleeves. Keep them to yourself and get out of them the best way you can. Leaders are not children, they must not, therefore, act like children.
8. Leaders must be self-possessed, confident, feeling self-reliant.
When your followers see that self-confidence they will believe in you and follow you. Always speak out right from your head and from your heart. When your heart and your head are in it, your whole body expresses the truth and you can hold any man’s stare.
9. A leader must not be extravagant.
You must not be flashy in the sense of being over sporty. People will not think you are serious. Always make your followers believe you are serious. Always think before you speak or act. Speak or write only when you have something to say and never touch anything, by way of leadership, that you do not know about because somebody who knows about it will have a joke at your expense. A leader must always have something to say, otherwise, you forfeit your leadership, and someone else who has something to say will supplant it.
10. A leader should always make an effort to be known in their community.
You must know the governor of the state or country, the secretary of your state, or your colonial secretary. You must know the mayor of your city, the administrative heads of all government departments, all the preachers and doctors and lawyers and prominent businessmen. You must seek to know all the people you want to be in your organization. Visit them in their homes, their workplaces, and anywhere you can meet them and always extend to them a glad hand.
I hope you find these tips helpful and I encourage you to read more about Marcus Garvey.
